Harmison looks to seniors

Steve Harmison sought the advice of his senior England colleagues and used it to provide a hostile and devastating welcome for Bangladesh during a disrupted but eventful opening day of the inaugural Test at the National Stadium.

Steve Harmison sought the advice of his senior England colleagues and used it to provide a hostile and devastating welcome for Bangladesh during a disrupted but eventful opening day of the inaugural Test at the National Stadium.

He has been unhappy that his efforts have been overlooked by England and dissatisfied with his performances during the two warm-up matches in Dhaka.

Therefore, Harmison spent the last 48 hours seeking guidance as he attempts to establish himself as a Test-class fast bowler.

That information-seeking exercise, which included discussions with England coach Duncan Fletcher, his assistant Mike Watkinson and Angus Fraser, reaped rewards.

The Durham fast bowler produced a stunning display on an opening day reduced to only 15 overs by rain and bad light.

The pace and bounce he exploited from the wicket resulted in two of the leading Bangladesh batsman falling in the 15 overs possible and almost certainly contributed to them accepting the offer of bad light with only eight overs left.

It was an impressive start to a winter during which Harmison expects to establish himself as England's leading spearhead and also intends to claim his first Test five-wicket haul.

"I've hit my rhythm at the right time," explained Harmison.

"I wasn't happy with the way I bowled in the second innings of the last game so I worked on a few things and spoke to a few people and I feel everything's gone well in the last 20 overs that I've bowled.

"I've had a chat with Mike Watkinson, Duncan Fletcher and some senior players and took in a bit of advice from everybody and worked out my game and how my game should be played at this level.

"I've not made any changes, I just thought mentally where I should be putting the ball and putting it altogether in one package rather than running up and trying to hit the deck as hard as I can."

Granted the new ball with Matthew Hoggard after Bangladesh won the toss and decided to bat, Harmison's initial burst lasted less than 20 minutes before rain halted play after four overs.

The outfield was saturated to such an extent it was six hours before play re-started.

Harmison took out his frustration on the Bangladesh batsman and struck with his second over after the restart with a delivery which looped off the shoulder of Javed Omar's bat to Rikki Clarke in the gully.

He could have had a second three balls later after Hannan Sarkar shouldered arms to a full-length delivery which nipped back and hit him on the pads but umpire Asoka de Silva disagreed with England's appeals.

Harmison claimed his second victim four overs later when Habibul Bashar attempted to cut another delivery which bounced into the safe hands of Marcus Trescothick at first slip.